Rabil Ejected for Punch, as Bayhawks Top Cannons

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The Chesapeake Bayhawks are now
the first team in the league to win three games this season. Both
the Bayhawks and the Boston Cannons came into tonight’s match
up with 2-1 records, hoping to continue with a winning season. The
Bayhawks prevailed, 17-14.

Last week, both teams had lethargic starts and were forced to play
from behind; this week, their mindsets were the same—to come
out on top and stay on top. The Bayhawks’ Matt Abbott fired
one off 13 seconds into the competition, clearly showing the
Cannons that they were in for a tough battle.

The Cannons were without their leading presence, Paul Rabil, for
most of the game, as he was ejected after throwing a punch at
Bayhawks’ defenseman Michael Evans seven minutes into the
first quarter. Rabil was trying to end Chesapeake’s 4-goal
scoring run, when Chris Garrity stopped his close range shot. Evans
then bull rushed Rabil just as he got the shot off, leading Rabil
to retaliate with a jab at his former college teammate.

With Rabil out of the picture, the Cannons looked to midfielders
Matt Poskay and Kevin Buchanan for offense, each registering four
goals. At times it seemed as though the Cannons were about to break
even, but Chris Garrity became a human wall. The relentless
goaltender made an astonishing 26 saves. He said he worked on
“staying big” and “got lucky” being in the
right place at the right time. “We were talking so well,
working as a group.”

The Bayhawks offensive unit also jived tonight, using seven
scorers with Peet Poillon, Danny Glading and Brian Vetter recording
hat-tricks. Leading the point totals for the MLL, Poillon is
quickly becoming a one-man-band with his jitterbug quickness and
rocket of a shot. Glading has mastered the art of using the
defender as a screen and working the goalie. Vetter had a
sensational 360 degree rotation at the side of the crease after
slithering through a double team for his first goal of the
night.

At the end of the third quarter, Dixon’s left arm appeared
to be injured after being hacked. It looked as though he
wouldn’t be returning to start the second half, but he came
out firing from behind the two-point arc. Dixon tallied his 21stand
22ndtwo-point goals of his career, moving him to fourth all-time in
the history of Major League Lacrosse.

Boston made one last run at the end of the game with Buchanan
netting a one-pointer followed by a two-pointer 12 seconds apart.
The league was narrowed to three, but Chesapeake was able to hold
the Cannons off until the last whistle blew.

The Boston Cannons will need to recreate the quick passing and
ball movement they used tonight when they meet the Outlaws at home
next Saturday.

The Chesapeake Bayhawks will look to stay sharp next week to
complete the season sweep of the Toronto Nationals.